Deborah Gillis will step in as president, CEO and director of New York-based Catalyst on Jan. 1, 2014. Gillis will be the fourth president of the nonprofit organization and the first person from outside the United States to run the company.
Gillis joined Catalyst in 2006 as executive director of Catalyst Canada and in 2008 became vice-president NorthAmerica. During that time, Gillis created the Catalyst Canada Honours event, which pays tribute to people who are helping to advance women’s leadership in corporate Canada. In 2011, Gillis was appointed senior vice president, membership and global operations and chief operating office in 2012. Gillis has helped to expand Catalyst’s membership and opened new office in India and Australia.
Current Catalyst president and CEO, Ilene Lang will be stepping down in 2014. Lang joined Catalyst in 2003 after a career as a high-tech and Internet executive for F500 and entrepreneurial companies. During her time as president and CEO, Lang doubled Catalyst’s revenue and tripled membership.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as Catalyst president for 10 years. Having worked closely with Deborah since hiring her, I have seen her remarkable leadership first-hand,” said Lang in a release. “Experienced in both business and public policy, she is the right person to take Catalyst to the next level.”
Catalyst was founded in 1962. The nonprofit organization focused on increasing opportunities for women in business and provided research information and advice about women at work.